3 Harbours on the horizon
Published 15 Apr 2010 06:00
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THIS year sees the 3 Harbours Arts Festival celebrate its fifth anniversary and the popular event has gone on to become one of the most valuable and diverse arts festivals in the country.
What began as a small idea to highlight the county's artistic talent and history has blossomed into one of the must-look-out-for dates on the calendar.
Spanning across Prestonpans, Port Seton and Cockenzie's harbours, the event continues to blossom and has incorporated separate projects within its structure such as a seafood festival, mural festival and the Boatie Blest mini-gala, which have all now gained their own identities.
This year's nine-day festival will see regular features such as the Cockenzie Power Station venue, the Pottery Workshops complex and the Prestongrange Museum all included again, but a few new draws will be on show such as a taster of the ongoing 103m Battle of Prestonpans Tapestry and the Boatie Blest boat-building project at Port Seton harbour.
Further highlights include a fifth birthday party and ceilidh opening night in the seafood marquee on May 28, the launch of a giant paperboat and giant cupcake into Cockenzie Harbour, the Mural Festival at Prestonpans' Cuthill Park and the presentation of the coastal regeneration 3D model.
And there are also a multitude of library workshops and tours to entertain the whole family during the festival run which includes jewellery demonstrations, sculpture workshops and drawing and painting classes.
The festival is also holding a cup cake competition where applicants are invited to cut out a template from the festival magazine, decorate it and take it along to the opening party ceilidh on May 28.
Organisers have admitted they are overwhelmed with the support the festival has received and are looking forward to another record-breaking attendance at this year's event.
Adele Conn, of the 3 Harbours Arts Festival management committee, said: "This year's festival is going to be our biggest and best yet, and we are expecting a record attendance of between 25,000 and 30,000. The seafood festival alone is expected to attract up to 10,000.
"The county is very well-known for its golfing history and most visitors to the area head straight down to Gullane and North Berwick, so we wanted to address that to show off the delights of Prestonpans, Cockenzie and Port Seton.
"This year we will have something for everybody.
"Many more locals this year have also come forward to host the Open House Trail, which will see art works put on display in people's front rooms.
"Many community groups have also expressed an interest in getting involved, which is what this festival is all about"
Festival programmes can be picked up from various county locations, such as libraries, pubs, restuarants and galleries.
Organisers are currently setting up a dedicated Facebook page which will be up-and-running over the next week.
FLEXING his mussels: John Curtis, seafood festival manager, above left with chef Andrew Blair.
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